Electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuring head

ABSTRACT

An electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuring head is disclosed. A meter body is rotatably engaged with respect to the pressure measuring head. A light emitting element is installed at a select position of the pressure measuring head so as to provide a sufficient illumination in the dark. Thereby the user may find the air tap easily.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic tire pressuregauge with a rotary pressure measuring head, wherein the pressuremeasuring head of the electronic tire pressure gauge is buckled with themeter body, so that the pressure measuring head is rotatable to acquirea preferred measuring orientation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, a tire pressure gauge has a measuring post hiddenat the distal end of the meter body. It is telescopic according to thetire pressure. The tire pressure is displayed by the scale in the post.When the tire pressure is high, the post has a larger protruded length,and vice versa. Another, electronic tire pressure meters are developed.In that, a pressuring sensing electronic element is installed at aninner wall of the air tap of pressure measuring head. The inner andouter wall of the meter body is installed with a circuit board (PCboard), a liquid crystal panel, a switching button, batteries and othercomponents. Thereby, when the air tap of the pressure measuring head isinserted into the tap of a tire, the pressuring sensing electronicelement serves to sense the tire pressure and the measured pressure isdigitally displayed on the liquid crystal panel. However, in this priorart electronic tire pressure meter, since the pressure measuring head isfixedly combined to the meter body, when the tire is still, since thepositions of the taps of four wheels are randomly distributed, thepressure measuring head must be matched to the positions of the taps formeasuring the tire pressure. However, the positions of the taps of fourwheels are randomly distributed, the liquid crystal panel can not alwaysface to the user. Thus, it is often that the user must be pulled out theelectronic tire pressure gauge for checking the pressure value. The useis not convenient. Furthermore, since the electronic tire pressure gaugehas no light source, as in the dark or when the illumination is weak,the user must take time to look for the correct position of a tap.However, this is inconvenient to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is toprovide an electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressuremeasuring head. In that, a meter body is rotatably engaged with respectto the pressure measuring head. By the elastomer of the meter body andthe stopper of the pressure measuring head, the pressure measuring headmay rotate with respect to the meter body through 360 degrees so as tomatch the air nozzzle of a tire and thus to decide an optimum position.Thus, the tire pressure can be measured conveniently and check the valueof the tire pressure.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuring head,wherein a stopper is installed at the inner lateral side of the pressuremeasuring head, and an elastomer is installed with respect to the meterbody. The inner edge of the pressure measuring head may be installedwith a plurality of grooves which are arranged around the edge and theelastomer is formed with a respective protrusion which can be buckled tothe grooves on the edge of the pressure measuring head and may beadjusted from one groove to another groove. Therefore, no matter thepressure measuring head is rotated to any angle, a preferred positioningcan be obtained.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide anelectronic tire pressure gauge with a continuous rotary pressuremeasuring head, wherein one lateral side of the conductive disk isinstalled with a plurality of adjacent conductive tracks, while anothersurface is used to be connected pins of selective electronic elements(such aforesaid pressure sensing electronic element or the lightemitting element described hereinafter) to the conductive tracks. Byaforesaid structure, the plurality of conductive pins spaced engaged tothe meter body are contact with the selective tracks of the conductivedisk of the pressure measuring head so that as the pressure measuringhead rotates through 360 degrees, it will retain with preferredconduction of signals and power with meter body. The wire windingincorrectly between the meter body and the pressure measuring head isavoided. Therefore, it may prevent the tire meter pressure from improperuse.

[0006] The various objects and advantages of the present invention willbe more readily understood from the following-detailed description whenread in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the first embodiment inthe present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment inthe present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing that the pressuremeasuring head is rotating in the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing that after rotating, thepressure measuring head faces downwards according to first embodiment inthe present invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing that in the firstembodiment of the present invention, after rotating, the pressuremeasuring head faces upwards.

[0012]FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the second embodimentin the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment inthe present invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing that the pressuremeasuring head is rotating in the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a partial schematic perspective view of the secondembodiment in the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view showing that after rotating, thepressure measuring head faces downwards according to second embodimentin the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] In order that those skilled in the art can further understand thepresent invention, a description will be described in the following indetails. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are onlyused to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects,features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to usedto confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in theappended claims.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the electronic tire pressure gaugewith a rotary pressure measuring head of the present invention isillustrated. The electronic tire pressure gauge in the first embodimentincludes a meter body 1 and a pressure measuring head 2.

[0019] The meter body 1 is formed by locking two casings 11, and a rearcover 12 (if necessary, this rear cover 12 can be neglect so as to beformed as an integral structure) is engaged at the distal end of themeter body. A circuit board (PC board) 13, a liquid crystal panel 14, apower switching button 15, and a battery seat 16 for receiving a batteryare arranged in the meter body. The meter body 1 is rotatably engagedwith respect to the pressure measuring head 2 (referring to FIG. 3). Anelastomer 17 is firmly secured (locking to) at a select portion.

[0020] The inner wall of the pressure measuring head 2 is installed witha pressure sensing electronic element 22. The pressuring sensingelectronic element 22 is mounted with an air tight element 221 at heperipheral wall, and a pressuring plate 222 resists against thepressuring sensing electronic element 22 and locks it. The inner wall ofthe pressure measuring head 2 is installed with a stopper 23 so that thestopper 23 may stop the elastomer 17 of the meter body 1.

[0021] By the elastomer 17 of the meter body 1 and the stopper 23 of thepressure measuring head 2, the pressure measuring head 2 may rotate withrespect to the meter body 1 through 360 degrees so as to match the airtap of a tire and thus to decide an optimum position. When the tirelocates still, despite the tire is at any position on the edge of atire, the liquid crystal panel 14 may correctly face to the user(referring to FIGS. 4 and 5) so as to measure the tire pressureconveniently and check the value of the tire pressure.

[0022] The elastomer 17 in the meter body 1 has two openings 171, 172. Apin 181 and a post 182 are located on the meter body 1 at positions withrespect to the two openings 171, 172 so that they can be engaged withone another and then are locked.

[0023] In the pressure measuring head 2 of the aforesaid electronic tirepressure meter, as the air tap 21 is inserted into the tap of a tire,the pressuring sensing electronic element 22 serves to sense thepressure automatically so that the measured signal can be transferredthe circuit board 13 of the meter body 1 and is digitally displayed onthe liquid crystal panel 14. The switching button 15 serves to switch apower source for turning on or open the pressure measuring of theelectronic tire pressure meter. However, these are known in the priorart, and thus the details will not be described herein.

[0024] In the aforesaid electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotarypressure measuring head, the inner edge of the pressure measuring head 2may be installed with a plurality of grooves 24 which are arrangedaround the edge and the elastomer 17 is formed with a respectiveprotrusion 173 which can be buckled to the grooves 24 on the edge of thepressure measuring head 2 and may be adjusted from one groove to anothergroove. Therefore, no matter the pressure measuring head 2 is rotated toany angle, a preferred positioning can be obtained.

[0025] In the electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressuremeasuring head of the present invention, a light emitting element 3 isinstalled at a select position of the pressure measuring head 2. Thelight emitting element 3 is connected to an illumination switchingbutton 19 installed at predetermined position at the outer side of themeter body 1. Thus, in the dark, or as the illumination is too weak, theswitching button 19 serves to provide a sufficient illumination so thatthe user may look for the tap conveniently.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, the electronic tire pressure gaugewith a continuous rotary pressure measuring head of the presentinvention is illustrated. The electronic tire pressure gauge in thefirst embodiment includes a meter body 1 a and a pressure measuring head2 a.

[0027] The meter body 1 a is formed by locking two casings 11 a, and arear cover 12 a (if necessary, this rear cover 12 a can be neglect) isengaged at the distal end of the meter body. A circuit board (PC board)13 a, a liquid crystal panel 14 a, a power switching button 15 a, abattery seat 16 a and others. The meter body 1 a is rotatably engagedwith respect to the pressure measuring head 2 a (referring to FIG. 8).An elastomer 17 is firmly secured (locking to) at a select portion inthe meter body 1 a. The elastomer 17 a has two opens 171 a and 172 a forbeing locked to the pin 181 a and 182 a of the meter body 1 a. However,in the meter body 1 a, at an end with a circuit board 13 a therein isinstalled with a plurality of conductive pins 131 a which can bealternatively arranged at the left and right sides (such as thatdisclosed in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings), or arranged asdesired so that one is adjacent to another. Furthermore, each conductivepin 131 a is formed by punching an elastic metal so that it has apreferred signal and power connection with the following conductive disk24 a.

[0028] The inner wall of the air inlet 21 a of the pressure measuringhead 2 a is installed with a pressure sensing electronic element 22 a.The pressuring sensing electronic element 22 a is mounted with an airtight element 221 a at he peripheral wall, and a pressuring plate 222 aresists against the pressuring sensing electronic element 22 and locksit. Furthermore, a center of the pressure measuring head 2 a isinstalled with a locking post 23 a for locking and positioning aconductive disk 24 a. One lateral side of the conductive disk 24 a isinstalled with a plurality of adjacent conductive tracks 241 a, whileanother surface is used to be connected pins of selective electronicelements (such aforesaid pressure sensing electronic element 22 a or thelight emitting element 3 a described hereinafter) to the conductivetracks 241 a.

[0029] By aforesaid structure, the plurality of conductive pins 131spaced engaged of the meter body 1 a are contact with the selectivetrack 241 a of the conductive disk 24 a of the pressure measuring head 2a (referring to FIG. 9) so that as the pressure measuring head 2 arotates through 360 degrees, it will retain with preferred conduction ofsignals and power with meter body 1 a. Therefore, the whole operation ismore convenient and easily despite the position of the air tap of thetire. The liquid crystal display 14 a may face to the use with a correctorientation for measuring and monitoring the air pressure of a tire.

[0030] The pressure measuring head 2 may rotate with respect to themeter body 1 through 360 degrees so as to match the air tap of a tireand thus to decide an optimum position. The wire winding incorrectlybetween the meter body 1 a and the pressure measuring head 2 a isavoided. Therefore, it may prevent the tire meter pressure from improperuse.

[0031] In the pressure measuring head 2 a of the aforesaid electronictire pressure meter, as the air tap 21 a is inserted into the tap of atire, the pressuring sensing electronic element 22 a serves to sense thepressure automatically so that the measured signal can be transferredthe conductive pins 131 a of the circuit board 13 a of the meter body 1a and is digitally displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14 a. Theswitching button 15 a serves to switch a power source for turning on oropen the pressure measuring of the electronic tire pressure meter.However, these are known in the prior art, and thus the details will notbe described herein.

[0032] In the aforesaid electronic tire pressure gauge with a continuousrotary pressure measuring head, the inner edge of the pressure measuringhead 2 may be installed with a plurality of grooves 25 a which arearranged around the edge and the elastomer 17 a is formed with arespective protrusion 173 a which can be buckled to the grooves 25 a onthe edge of the pressure measuring head 2 a and may be adjusted from onegroove to another groove (referring to FIG. 10). Therefore, no matterthe pressure measuring head 2 a is rotated to any angle, a preferredbuckling effect is obtained.

[0033] In the electronic tire pressure gauge with a continuous rotarypressure measuring head of the present invention, a light emittingelement 3 a is installed at a select position of the pressure measuringhead 2 a. The light emitting element 3 a is connected to an illuminationswitching button 19 installed at predetermined position at the outerside of the meter body 1 through the conductive disk 24 a and theconductive pins 131 a of the circuit board 13 a. Thus, in the dark, oras the illumination is too weak, the switching button 19 a serves toprovide a sufficient illumination so that the user may look for the tapconveniently.

[0034] The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious thatthe same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilledin the art are intended to be included within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotarypressure measuring head comprising a meter body and a pressure measuringhead; wherein the meter body has a circuit board, a liquid crystalpanel, a power switching button, and a battery seat for receiving abattery therein; the meter body is rotatably engaged with respect to thepressure measuring head; and an elastomer is firmly secured at a selectportion thereof; the pressure measuring head is installed with apressure sensing electronic element; wherein the pressure measuring headrotates with respect to the meter body as desired so as to match the airtap of a tire and thus to decide an optimum position so that the liquidcrystal panel correctly faces to the user to measure the tire pressureconveniently and check the value of the tire pressure easily.
 2. Theelectronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuring head asclaimed in claim 1, wherein inner wall of the pressure measuring head isinstalled with a stopper so that the stopper stops the elastomer of themeter body as the stopper contacts the elastomer.
 3. The electronic tirepressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim1, wherein an inner edge of the pressure measuring head is installedwith a plurality of grooves which are arranged around the edge and theelastomer is formed with a respective protrusion which is capable ofbeing buckled to the grooves on the edge of the pressure measuring headand can be adjusted from one groove to another groove; therefore, nomatter the pressure measuring head is rotated to any angle, a preferredpositioning can be obtained.
 4. The electronic tire pressure gauge witha rotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein alight emitting element is installed at a select position of the pressuremeasuring head; the light emitting element is connected to anillumination switching button installed at a predetermined position atan outer side of the meter body so as to provide a sufficientillumination.
 5. The electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotarypressure measuring head as claimed in claim 1, wherein a meter body isformed by locking two casings, and a rear cover is engaged at a distalend of the meter body.
 6. The electronic tire pressure gauge with arotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 1, wherein an innerwall of the pressure measuring head is installed with a pressure sensingelectronic element; the pressuring sensing electronic element is mountedwith an air tight element at he peripheral wall, and a pressuring plateresists against the pressuring sensing electronic element and locks it.7. The electronic tire pressure gauge with a rotary pressure measuringhead as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elastomer in the meter body hastwo openings; a pin and a post are located on the meter body atpositions with respect to the two openings so that they are engagablewith one another and then are locked.
 8. An electronic tire pressuregauge with a continuous rotary pressure measuring head comprises a meterbody and a pressure measuring head, wherein the meter body is installedwith a circuit board, a liquid crystal panel, a power switching button,a battery seat for receiving batteries and others; the meter body isrotatably engaged with respect to the pressure measuring head; an innerwall of the air tap of the electronic element is installed with apressure sensing electronic element; characterized in that: one end ofthe circuit board in the meter body is installed with a plurality ofconductive pins which are arranged with one adjacent to another, and acenter of the pressure measuring head is installed with a locking postfor locking and positioning a conductive disk; one lateral side of theconductive disk is installed with a plurality of adjacent conductivetracks, while another surface is used to be connected pins of selectiveelectronic elements to the conductive tracks; by aforesaid structure,the plurality of conductive pins spaced engaged to the meter body arecontact with the selective tracks of the conductive disk of the pressuremeasuring head so that as the pressure measuring head rotates through360 degrees, it will retain with preferred conduction of signals andpower with meter body.
 9. The electronic tire pressure gauge with acontinuous rotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe meter body is formed by two casings.
 10. The electronic tirepressure gauge with a continuous rotary pressure measuring head asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a distal end of the meter body is engagedwith a rear cover.
 11. The electronic tire pressure gauge with acontinuous rotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 8, whereinan elastomer with protrusion is installed at a selective portion of themeter body, and an inner edge of the pressure measuring head isinstalled with a plurality of grooves which are arranged around theedge; the protrusion of the elastomer is buckled to the grooves on anedge of the pressure measuring head and is adjusted from one groove toanother groove; therefore, no matter that the pressure measuring head isrotated to any angle, therefore, a preferred buckling effect isobtained.
 12. The electronic tire pressure gauge with a continuousrotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 8, wherein theplurality of conductive pins of the circuit board of the conductive pinsare alternatively arranged at a left and a right side, or arranged witha selective order so that one is adjacent to another.
 13. The electronictire pressure gauge with a continuous rotary pressure measuring head asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the conductive pins are made by punchingelastic metal.
 14. The electronic tire pressure gauge with a continuousrotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 8, wherein theelectronic element is a pressure sensing electronic element or a lightemitting element.
 15. The electronic tire pressure gauge with acontinuous rotary pressure measuring head as claimed in claim 8, whereina light emitting element is installed at a select position of thepressure measuring head; and the light emitting element is connected toan illumination switching button installed at predetermined position atan outer side of the meter body through the conductive disk and theconductive pins of the circuit board.